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Analysis of Side Population in Solid Tumor Cell Lines
Published on: February 23, 2021
Breast cancer, side population cells and ABCG2 expression.
K M Britton1, R Eyre2, I J Harvey1
1Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK.
Cancer Letters
|April 24, 2012
Summary
Drug-resistant Side Population (SP) cells expressing ABCG2 may drive metastatic breast cancer recurrence. Identifying SP cells in fine needle aspirates could predict aggressive tumors and inform treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Recurrent metastatic breast cancer is linked to drug-resistant adult stem cells, specifically Side Population (SP) cells.
- The SP cell phenotype is characterized by the expression of ABCG2, a transporter protein involved in drug efflux.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of SP cells in Fine Needle Aspirates (FNAs) of breast tumors.
- To determine if ABCG2 expression in breast tumors correlates with the presence of SP cells and chemoresistance.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of SP and non-side population (NSP) cells using dual-wavelength flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 dye.
- Analysis of ABCG2 expression and chemoresistance in isolated SP and NSP cells.
- Immunohistochemical analysis of ABCG2 protein expression in matched FNA and paraffin-embedded tumor tissues.
Main Results:
- MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines contain SP cells with increased ABCG2 expression and mitoxantrone resistance compared to NSP cells.
- The presence of SP cells in FNAs significantly correlated with Estrogen Receptor (ER)-negative and triple-negative breast cancers.
- Tumors with SP cells showed a significant increase in ABCG2 protein expression, although ABCG2 transcript was not detected in all SP cell populations.
Conclusions:
- SP cells expressing ABCG2 are present in breast tumors and may contribute to chemoresistance and recurrence.
- Identifying SP cells in FNAs can serve as a potential biomarker for aggressive breast cancer subtypes like ER-negative and triple-negative disease.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the role of ABCG2 in SP cell-mediated drug resistance in breast cancer.
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